Former England captain David Beckham, hailed as a success for soccer in the United States, will say his farewell to LA Galaxy in next month's MLS Cup final with one more mission yet to accomplish.
It was only in January that Beckham signed a new deal with the Galaxy but his departure, announced on Monday, paves the way for him to enjoy a last hurrah elsewhere while the Galaxy could take the chance to look for a new big name in his place.
"One of the reasons why I'm stopping playing here is because I've achieved everything that I've wanted to achieve as a player and outside of the game. Winning the championship last year was one of the last things I wanted to achieve with Galaxy as a club. I've been proud to have been a part of the MLS and the progression of the MLS for the last six years," said Beckham.
37-year-old Beckham has made it clear that he intends to continue his involvement in MLS beyond his playing days and even discussed his option to have an ownership role in a future new franchise.